Prettiest Boy

No one is exactly sure what Steve came into contact with that resulted in this. One day he goes to bed normal and the next time anyone sees him he is a child and scared.

Billy is not sure how Steve ends up at the Henderson’s most of the time. He is pretty sure it is something Dustin insisted on more than an offer from Claudia. Not that she would not have volunteered but as a single mother and a full time nurse her schedule is already pretty full.

He honestly did not believe Max or the rumors going around about it until he was dropping Max off one day and he saw the proof for himself when Mrs. Henderson asked him to stick around and help her with her car and then insisted he stay for dinner. He is just coming out of the bathroom after washing his hands when he runs into a kid he has not seen hanging around before.

He is a small thing, with a lot of volume to his brown hair, looks in need of a haircut or growing out a few more inches, caught in a middle point. He is staring up at Billy with big familiar brown eyes but it is the constellation of three moles on his cheek that has recognition sparking in Billy. Steve, this is Steve, he really is de-aged. This town just gets weirder all the time. 

“Hi I’m Steve, who are you?” Steve asks, beaming up at him.

Billy falters for a moment, honestly shocked before mumbling out. “Billy.”

“Steve come on, Billy’s a jerk. It’s time to feed Einstein. I got some fresh crickets for him.” Dustin shouts from down the hall shaking a container that must contain the aforementioned crickets.

“I don’t want to watch that.” Steve says, making pleading eyes up at Billy like he thinks he will save him and Billy is a sucker for kids so of course he will.

“How about you come down stairs with me? I bet we can find something better to watch than Einstein eating crickets.” Billy’s stomach rolls a little at the idea of watching those crickets die. Dustin sneers at him from behind Steve and he ignores it as Steve reaches out a little hand for him, a little chubby, not the slender long fingered thing Billy has admired on his older form.

“You’re the prettiest boy I’ve ever seen.” Steve tells him, with a big toothy grin, looking up at him with those big brown doe eyes, looking even bigger now that he is so small.

Billy’s chest puffs out despite himself and his cheeks heat. Steve, older Steve, has never paid him a compliment, not a real one anyway. Billy is pretty sure the ‘ Just because you have drool worthy abs doesn’t mean you should have them out in fucking January, put a jacket on and zip up Hargrove. ’ was never intended as such regardless of how Billy chose to take it.

Usually Billy would go smug and flirt or be a dick and tease but that behavior is reserved for adults and Steve is what seven? Maybe Eight? Billy is not like that with kids, no he is good with kids.

So Billy smiles down at Steve, genuine and unflirty, the same smile he used when answering children’s questions during swimming lessons at the pool over the summer. “You’ll be the pretty one when you grow up kid.” Not that he is not pretty now but it is not the same. He is pretty in a cute kid way with his thick eyelashes and his chubby cheeks and Billy is willing to bet he would look adorable in a stupid animal costume like the lion one Billy had to wear for a first grade play when he was young. 

Dustin scoffs audibly, glaring at him from a few paces closer, hand reaching out and catching Steve by the shoulder pulling him back. Billy rolls his eyes but does not try and reach for Steve, if he wants to come down and watch television he will. Billy turns, figuring that that is the end of it. He is already tired of dealing with Dustin, he is making him regret accepting the dinner invitation. 

Steve follows after him, all the way down the stairs to the living room before he catches Billy’s hand again and leads him over to the couch. Billy could break loose, it would be easy with how little Steve is but as a kid he is adorable tucking himself into his side. Dustin who followed Steve down here looks like he is going to pop, face so red.

“We can be pretty together?” Those big eyes are on him again and Billy does what he always does when a kid asks him a question that does not need an actual answer. 

“Sure.” He just goes with it. It is easier than arguing and potentially upsetting them. He only does that if it is necessary, most things he leaves for their parents to sort out.

Steve nods like he has been given some sort of decisive answer, hair bouncing before he tilts his head back and grins up at Billy again “And then we’ll get married?”

Dustin is spluttering redder than ever at the question. Mouth opening and closing but so far he has not managed to get a word out.

Billy cannot help himself from laughing. It comes out as more of a hysterical thing than humor because Steve Harrington, his, inch taller than him, grown up Steve would never ask him that. 

Dustin finally gets words into his mouth, yelling about how awful Billy is and how Steve has to take it back. How he would never want that if he remembered him. Steve shrinks back ducking under Billy’s arm and then wedging himself further back, trying to get behind him. It should not be funny and it is not but it makes more of that hysterical laughter bubble up out of him because Steve, older Steve would never look to him for safety not after that fight in November.

It is the near silent tears pressed into the back of his arm that sobers him. This is not their Steve. This is a child, a small innocent version of him who does not understand why Dustin is pissed. Who probably thinks Billy is laughing at him.

Billy’s gut churns as he twits, dragging Steve out from hiding and into a hug, his little face pressed against his chest. “Hey, hey none of that, it’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong Dustin is just an idiot don’t cry.” Billy glares Dustin down over Steve’s head until he finally stops yelling.

It still takes a few minutes, sniffles and likely snot rubbed into his shirt before Steve pulls back wet eyes looking up at him. So sad like a puppy that has been scolded for trying to crawl up on the couch for a cuddle. “Don’t you want to marry me?” The lip wobble is potent, Billy feels like an asshole for laughing.

He tosses a book from the side table and smacks Dustin in the chest when he opens his mouth to start yelling again. They definitely do not need any more of that, it will likely just lead to Steve crying again.

Billy has big brown eyes staring up at him and if they were different, if they were his Steve with the scar at his hairline from his hands. Well if it were he would never ask him such a thing. How is he supposed to explain that to this little Steve without more tears? 

He does not.

“Sure pretty boy, just ask me when you’re older.” He ignores the disgusted look Dustin throws at him as Steve burrows back into his chest, arms wrapping around him as best they can with how small they are now. 

“Okay I will.” Steve mutters like a promise and Billy knows it will not happen but he still has a flutter of hope that maybe it could.

-End